Tony Joe White

Raised on a cotton farm near Oak Grove, Louisiana, Tony Joe White started playing clubs in the American South before pursuing a solo career. His debut album, Black and White, came out in 1969 and featured “Polk Salad Annie”, his biggest hit as a performer.

He also wrote “Rainy Night in Georgia”, popularized by Brook Benton. White kept recording for decades; he released Bad Mouthin’ in 2018 and died that year, at 75.